ADaily News New York, New York Tuesday, February 15, 1972 - Page 156
Chess Series Set in Iceland & Yugoslavia
Amsterdam, Feb. 14 (UPI) — Max Euwe, president of the World Chess Federation, announced today that the world title match between the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer of the United States will be held both in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and Reykjavik, Iceland.
Euwe, in a compromise decision, took the first choices of each of the players and awarded each city half the games in the 24-game title match.
Belgrade will be the scene of the first 12 games.
Need for Extra Rest
Euwe said the championship match should not start later than June 25, but he added that he would agree to their starting several days earlier. He said the players might need extra rest because they have to play in two cities.
The decision ended two weeks of confusion over the site of the match. The location was to have been decided Jan. 31, but the preference lists submitted by each player did not coincide.
Belgrade had topped the list submitted by Fischer, the 28-year-old challenger. Reykjavik was the first choice of Spassky.
Tie Enough for Spassky
The match will not get to Reykjavik in the unlikely event that Spassky wins all of the first 12 games. In the case of a tie, Spassky retains his title. Fischer needs 12½ points to gain the title.
The communique noted that Belgrade had offered a prize fund of $150,000. Chess experts said the total prize money probably would be half of each—$137,500.
The prize money is expected to be split two thirds for the winner and one third for the loser.
